Everything tastes like cloves

They put these suture type things in my mouth because my lack of wizdom teeth are giviving me flak that are made of cloves, so now I'm stuck at work tasting cloves all day.

I just listened to a speach by Dick Beardsley titled "Staying the Course." It was pdcasted by The Age Grouper over at http://theagegrouper.com/. I don't have the direct link because they just moved into a super space age website and haven't posted all the old episodes yet, but check it out if you have time... very inspirational stuff.

The reason for this post is the Red Sox, most notably the leak of Big Papi's steroid use and the looming MLB trade deadline. First off, Big Papi. Not much to say about that other than he's a cheater. Now, thats pretty rough because he's on my team, but I won't sugar coat it. I've heard a lot about "doesn't this taint the Sox '04 World Series title?" Absolutely not, and here's why: look at the teams the Sox beat in the ALCS and World Series- the Yankees and the Cardinals. The Yankees had guys like Jason Giambi and Andy Pettitte, and the Cards had Mark McGuire. Its as shame for baseball, that guys like Ortiz are cheaters in a game of cheaters, but then, that's not limited to this decade. You had generation of alcoholics, cheaters, guys who bet on baseball, and all sorts of black marks on the game.

First, we have a straight up deal for your reading pleasure: Casey Kotchman from the Angels to the Red Sox for Andy La Roche. Now, Kotchman is a leftie like La Roche, and he has more power than La Roche, but he's 26. Speculation is he'll be a bench guy, but you can't put a guy with that much potential on the bench, but Lowell isn't a bench player ether. We're going to have to stash Lowell on the DL long term until we can get a good look at Kotchman, and then make a call and play Youk at third. I think this is a good move because I really don't think Lowell will be a starter next season.

Up next we have a trade that makes me want to throw something at the computer screen. The Sox are sending highly touted pitching prospects Justin Masterson, Nick Hagadone, and Bryan Price for the Indians Victor Martinez. Now, Martinez can play Catcher or first base, but he's a below average first baseman, plus we have a logjam there so lets forget about that. Bringing Martinez to the Sox is a good move (note that I didn't say the deal itself was good) because we've gotten very spotty offensive production from behind the plate, and while I love Tek, he is coming to the end of his playing rope. Kottaras has played well, although his offensive production has been spotty as well. Unfortunately, Kottaras is now on the fringe and will probably be sent down and will be a September call up. The deal, however-- we gave up too much. Nick Hagadone is the eigth ranked Red Sox prospect by Baseball Prospectus, and Masterson the 53rd ranked prospect in baseball. With Cleveland so pressed for pitching depth, you could think we could exploit that and trade for less pitchers, not more.

The Mike Lowell contingency plan

Besides moving Julio Lugo to St. Louis for outfielder Chris Duncan, the Sox also traded a couple of prospects for first baseman Adam Laroche. This apparently spells the end for outfielder/ first baseman Mark Kotsay, who was desegnated for assignment yesterday, and will join Duncan in AAA Pawtucket. The move gives the Sox flexibility, in that they can move Youk to third, and play La Roche at first. With La Roche being a leftie batter, he is almost perfect for hitting dingers on (and over) the green monster, as he has taken a liking to already. However, multiple time gold glove third baseman Mike Lowell is left out of this plan. Now, he's been kept out of yesterday and tonight's game with what I think is an injury, otherwise we'd have a real logjam on our hands. I hesitate to say Mikey's past his prime, but he's definitely an injury liability. If it was up to me, there's a spot on the bench with Lowell's name on it, but at 12.5 million, can we afford it?

I was talking my nightly Red Sox with some guys on the Up on the Monster message board, and they said the word around beantown is that we will turn around and deal La Roche to the Padres for ace Jake Peavey, as well as Boston sending over a couple prospects. If La Roche continues on the tear he's on, I'm not sure thats such a good deal. However, we do need a starter, because John Smoltz's time as a starter is pretty much over.

Lugo designated for assignment

Rejoyce! The error- prone Lugo will now be making errors for Pawtucket. Seriously, we haven't had a steady shortstop since the early years of Nomahhhh. We've got virtually no offensive production out of that position lately. Nick Green's been solid lately, but I think he's a stopgap solution. Who knows if Lowrie can be a star in this league- it looks that way, but who knows how he'll bounce back from his injury (I haven't seen his numbers from his rehab stint.) It is also reported that the Braves are interested in Brad Penny. I know the Braves have said they are not looking to move Yunel Escobar, but maybe we could sweeten the pot and get an Escobar or a young kid like Martin Prado

Sox finally get good start from Penny, Ortiz takes a seat

With the Sox starting a four game set in Minnesota, I get to watch all four games. And, with Ortiz hitting sub- .200 and going 0 for 12 in the New York Mets series, it was time for Tito to do something. Francona benched Ortiz for today's game, putting the red hot Mikey Lowell in the DH slot, putting Youk at third, and sliding call- up Jeff Bailey to first. Lowell went 4 for 5 with one RBI, Youk continued his red hot tear going 2 for 5 with two RBI's, and Bailey went 1 for 3 with one HR, his third, and second against the Twins. If it was up to me, and obviously it isn't, I would stick with this lineup for at least a couple more days, and keep Ortiz on the bench.

Oh, and Brad Penny. 4.12 career ERA, terrible control this season Brad Penny. He made Theo Epstein look like a genious today. Usually, Penny looks like a trainwreck, but not today. He pitched beutifully, throwing 5.1 innings of 6 hit ball. As I sit here watching the Pittsburgh- Chicago Cubs game watching Cubbies starter Ryan Dempster walk in two runs, I'm glad Penny's in my rotation.

Paps & Ortiz

So, I wanna talk about the Red Sox debauchery against the Angels yesterday. Johnathan Papelbon was shaky at best. I dont want to look up any stats because I'm lazy, but he went to a couple 3-0 counts to Angels batters, gave up too many base hits, and threw I think 15 or so pitches. They said we had the best bullpen in the league. False. Papi was a complete trainwreck though, worse than Paps. He struck out 3 times, went 0 for 7, and is batting around .200. I think we need to sit this guy.